EL CONSULADO
PACHANGA

El Consulado begins as a liminal space suspended between past and future, uprootedness and belonging—evolving through art into a reflection of resilience, adaptation, and rebirth. The installation features paintings on canvas, paper, and recycled materials arranged throughout the space and hanging from ceilings and walls. The imagery evokes memories of home, blending plants, fruits, flowers, landscapes, oceanic colors, geometric forms, and architectural elements that embody our cultural heritage. Some real but mostly artificial plants blur the line between reality and representation. Textile-based artworks—paintings sewn together to form soft sculptures—create a layered visual narrative. Projections and video installations add movement and storytelling, while digital screens display archival footage, interviews, and multimedia elements, deepening the exploration of migration and memory. Scattered reinterpretations of iconic public art from Caracas preserve and recontextualize cultural symbols, bridging past and present.

At its core, El Consulado is a participatory space, shaped by artistic collaboration and community engagement. Workshops, live performances, and interactive art-making transform it into a living experience. Visitors are invited to create and share stories through hands-on workshops and collaborative mural-making. Live music, dance, and performance art animate the space, while film screenings and storytelling sessions explore migration and identity. A dedicated lounge fosters conversations, making El Consulado more than an exhibition—an evolving space of cultural preservation, artistic dialogue, and creative resilience.

PACHANGA is a Venezuelan immigrant arts collective in New York, founded in 2023 in response to the lack of cultural representation for Venezuelan artists in the U.S. Through multidisciplinary practices, we use art as a vehicle for resilience, healing, and cultural preservation, exploring themes of diaspora, memory, and adaptation. In a city that both challenges and inspires us, we weave networks of solidarity, fostering a creative community that amplifies our voices and stories.

Participating Artists: 

Alejandra Mandelblum: Multidisciplinary artist, muralist, creative director, art director, fashion designer, art educator, and producer

Frahydel Falczuk: Architect, multidisciplinary artist, modern dance interpreter

Lolo Bello: Educator, film & theater producer, and advocate of Latin American and Caribbean culture

Luke Grande: Multi-instrumentalist musician, singer & songwriter, stage, TV, and film actor (Method & Improv), vocal coach, music teacher focused on social-emotional learning, bilingual communicator (English/Español), live event producer & consultant

Leonard Zelig: Filmmaker, writer, entrepreneur, theater artist, teacher, digital strategist, fútbol player, and domino enthusiast. Storyteller all around.